A single-seat jet developed by the US, F-16 Falcons have the unfortunate nickname "Lawn Dart" because they only have one, albiet huge, turbojet engine. The F-16 is smaller and lighter (and thus more manuverable; has about half the turn radius of an F-15 at similar speeds) than twin-engine fighters such as the F-15 and F-14 to make up for this. It's also much less expensive than the two previously mentioned: 16's cost about 15 million, while the other two run around 50 million. It can be configured for both air superiority and as a bomber. The two-seaters are the training version.

The 16 is not the only fighter that produces more thrust than weight and thus can accelerate straight up. The F-15 and F/A-18 are also capable of this, and possibly some others, not necessarily of US origin. Neither the 16 nor 15 are capable of vertical acceleration when fully loaded with weapons and fuel.